Well I thought this made such a good post on the boards that I would use it for a blog as well. Basically im on the fence at the moment with the new generation of console systems. I hate that things are so close right now. I want a clear cut champion! *Sigh* it would make things so much easier. I really love Microsoft and their 360 but some of the ps3 trailers and upcoming games have me floored too. Its a waste to get both systems I think.. so im really still eh on who to support this generation. Some of my ps3 concerns: System Functionality ---------------------------- 1. Im worried about this thing having heating problems and being buggy as hell at launch. I know threads like this one are speculation, but the 360 has heating problems- so why wouldn't the ps3? The first ps1 had it, the ps2 had it, and its not looking good for the ps3 either. I know I could buy an instore warranty with the machine (something I will do) its just something that bugs me. By the time its said and done and I get the $600 unit, an extra controller and 2-3 games im looking at a $1000 investment. It dosen't make me very confident in my investment if the machine is heat raped and left for dead after week 1 or month 1 (or even month 2,3,4 and 5) Developer Support -------------------------- 2. Will Sony have the same Developer support it did last generation? Choice is a big thing for me, as is a lot of people. I think the ps2 managed to garner the most third party support by being the most economically feasible system and by having the huge support in system sales by being the cheapest DvD player on the market. Now its the most expensive system, which makes me worry about developer support. There is already rampant rumors about developers jumping ship and moving to Nintendo to work on the Wii. I know they are just rumors granted, but it makes me wonder. Blu- Ray ------------ 3. Blu-Ray. I don't care about it, But I care that its succesfull. Because if it isn't succesfull, and HD-DVD dominates the market than what a wasted feature of my new system. I don't want it to end up like UMDS or BETAMAX, because I want my primary entertainment investment to be succesfull in all aspects. Especially considering that if I do get a ps3 im damn well going to utilize all its features and use it as my multimedia living room hub for movie viewing, music listening and games. DvD Viewing Compatibility ------------------------------------ 4. Does this thing play DvDs? If blu ray is succesfull than ill be happy with it and buy blu ray movies for my movie collection, but what about the hundreds of available movie dvds I already have? Will they work fine? Backwards Compatibility ---------------------------------- 5. Regarding games, will the ps3 contain a ps2 chip that will allow all access backwards compatability, or will they have to do software emulation like the 360. Because we all seen how far that went, the big fat failure is what that was. Do you think it will offer full backwards compat.? Achivement Points -------------------------- 6. I love em. Love em, love em, love em! I heard rumors that Sony was implementing a similiar feature with the ps3, but I guess its just rumors at this point. Its become one of my favorite addicting things about the new generation, sort of like a centrialized scoring system for all gamers. It may seem trivial to some, but for people like me who absolutley love the concept its a major selling point. Online Gaming --------------------- 7. I grimaced when I heard Sonys Online was going to be free! Sounds strange I know you think free would be welcome, but you really get what you pay for. They really have the chance to either match Xbox Live and surpass it. Or drop the ball and fail horribly like the ps2. At this point in my life I play a lot online, as its offers infinite replay value and fun with a game. Helps justify the next gen pricing a bit more too. So I have to say online gaming is probably my number 1 concern overall, will it be as good as Live? Ehh.. free service is not looking like it. I want to believe in Sony and that they will meet all these issues listed above, but I have my doubts. I have access to and am willing to spend the money required, though I want some assurance that my choice won't blow up in my face with failed movie formats, system heating issues and bad online gaming.

Today I was musing over some reviews, pondering my next few games to purchase here at our lovley home away from home, and it hit me: there just seems to be too much. Now many wouldn't consider that a bad thing, but when it boils down to it, it really is. Its not just a matter of money, but time as well. I mean with my new job starting next month Im gonna have one to two thousand a month in disposable income so the money is not the real problem, its the time. Ten hour days at work, female intrests and friends make gaming time less and less. So at long last I can afford all the things I want... but don't have the time for them really. What kind of joke is this? To explain a little more, im all about the games and there is around a hundred titles I want total, including new hardware purchases of a DS, a PSP, a 360 a Wii and a ps3. At most 20 hours a week isnt going to cut it anymore, can anyone add an extra couple days onto the weekend or something? It just seems like its too much, I cant keep up with all the great games I want to play through. Its like too much of a good thing. And with the new generation fully kicking into gear its like overkill. I could last the next few years just going through last generations titles I wanted to play, let alone starting a new generation. Anyone else have a problem like this?

Alright a while ago I wasnt convinced that the 360 was truly ringing in a next generation feel, but Fight Night Round 3 started to get more on the money.. man those guys looked real..neat. But still as fun as FN 3 was, it wasnt enough to get me to jump over the fence. Then the other day I came home from work and my brother was playing the new Elder Scrolls: Oblivion and everything changed. It was like a revelation, at that moment I realized this next generation thing was for real, that it was coming whether I was prepared or not. All I could do is sit and watch him play in awe. Walking through a forest in the game is like going outside and real life and walking in the forest. I immediatley noticed different ferns, bushes, different trees... the lighting effects of the sun cascading through the trees.. and of course a pack of ravenous wolves descending on him. And for the next 8 hours I watched, as he found and consequently decided to kill off a small hamlet, stealing all they had to offer. watched as he found hidden dungeons, truly dank dangerous catacombs filled with moaning ghost, shambling skeletons and viscious vampires. I watched as he rode through the woods on horesback (horseriding is more fun in games than it sounds!) joined a theives guild, destroyed a vampire covenant and contracted vampirism in the process, found the illegitamte emperors heir and closed his first Oblivion gate (essentialy portals to hell that are opening up, where demonic armys come through to wreak destruction) Now you can say what you want about graphics vs gameplay debate. And while I see it that to make a truly outstanding game they really go hand in hand. Oblivion offers absolutley the best graphics I may have ever witnessed, thrown in with complex character generation system and visceral fun melee combat. This game is so well done that my brother, who normally avoids anything termed "Role-Playing" like the plauge, was immediatley drawn in and addicted. So now it is decided that I am gonna salt away my money for the next month or two and track down a 360. Because folks this is the new generation, and I don't want to sit on the sidelines anymore!

Ok after having a full few weeks of play time with the 360 and the best 4 games it has to offer IMO, these games being: Perecr Dark Zero, Call Of Duty 2, Kameo: Elements Of Power and Quake 4 Does anyone else find themselves underwhelmed by the mediocre games. I mean dont get me wrong Call OF Duty 2 is great but only took like 12 hours to beat... perfect dark is fun but not AAA...Kameo is an average platformer at best and Quake 4 is fun at times, but feels like im playing doom 3 with aliens instead of demons. I think that the 360 really needs some good games to come out for it soon or sales might suffer. The games are nothing you cant play on current machines, they just look better and run smoother. Not exactly worth spending over $700 on the machine and games is it? I still stand by my stance of waiting a year before buying a new system as we will see some awesome games released by then. At least that is my hope anyways games like mass effect and gears of war are holding my attention. But will they offer a quick fix then become stale or finally carve the 360 out as a new generation of gaming? I find myself waiting for that time to come when some spectacular must have games come out.. the machine itself is a powerhouse, now lets see some titles to back that up. Without the killer software the beast 360 will starve.

Well its that magical time of year again. And no im not refering to Saint Nick or his army of midget elves slaving away making toys for the kiddies.. I refer of course to the new console launch, the 360. I must say it seems to this gamer that it made a pretty big first impression of the new gen. Gone is the clunky black box of yore, and in is its sleek new counterpart, its just so pleasing to look at. Even when you boot up the system it sounds powerfull. I was particularily impressed with the menu system it employs as well. The blades are very streamlined and easy to read. Getting to your gametag, or system configuration is as easy as pushing the xbox symbol on the middle of the controller. Even during a game it will automatically pause and bring you right in to your gamertag, where you are free to look at achievments, gamerscore, and even chat with online buddys. For the games themselves, so far I have seen and played four of them, but not for any extended period of time yet (no more than an hour or two) Perfect Dark Zero by far taking the cake graphics wise. But whats more Than the shiny graphical polish and the solid smoot framerate is how it feels to play this game. Everything is smooth, sleek and crisp. Its soundtrack is awesome with a mix of orchestral and rock to keep your blood pumping and heart punding. The battles are just intense and tactical as well! You can take cover behind almost anything, execute a fast roll to get out of the fire. Whats more. THE DAMN BODIES STAY WHEN YOU KILL THEM. Thats what made me appreciate the gen even more! I have been waiting since goldeneye 64 for the bodies to stay. Its satisfying backtracking through the urban areas and looking at your hard earn kills! Blood will stay splattered on the walls, and the bodies will still be there. Its sweet. Ive only got to play a little bit of kameo, but its a lot of fun judging it through its first castle mission, beautifull backgrounds and art, more of that smooth, crisp gameplay and its just FUN. Looking forward to delving into this one a little more... My last thought, is about my favorite feature of the entire thing. The achievments. There has been mixed reaction around the board about these, but I think they help make the system. Finally true competetion on a global level to get the high gamerscore. Lets not forget the huge replay value it will add to virtually EVERY 360 game as it is a standard feature. Microsoft has done their homework, and its paid off. New gen is here and its a damn fine kickoff for it too. Im truly excited about the games we will see produced on this system in a years time. Gmode out.

Recent posts on the forum spurred me on to write my first blog, a lot of gamers on here seem to think Ninja Gaiden is unfair and too hard to enjoy. Firstly this is one of the best games this gen period, regardless of how much you suck at it. Now don't get me wrong I had to play through the first five chapters of the game like 3-4 times on different save files before finally getting skilled enough to have a good file and continue on. The game just takes practice, practice and more practice. It is truly rewarding when you realize those black ninjas in chapter 4 that killed you over and over again now stand no chance, that you can go through the first 4 chapters without using a potion... you just... get better the more and more you play. Dont be thrown off by the learning curve it just takes time, once you start to grow with the game it becomes one of the best action game EVER. And .. it stops being hard and more fun, give it time.